VET Knowledge

01/05/2025

Injection Sites in Common Farm Animals: A Simple Guide for Farmers and Animal Keepers

Giving injections (shots) to farm animals is a normal part of taking care of them. Injections help prevent or treat sickness and make sure the animals stay healthy. But it’s important to give these shots in the right place to avoid hurting the animal or damaging the meat, especially in animals raised for food. This guide explains the best places to give shots in common farm animals like goats, cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens.

1. Muscle Shots (Intramuscular or IM)
These shots go deep into the muscles. They work slowly but for a long time.

- Goats: The best place is in the neck, just in front of the shoulder. You can also use the back leg, but this may affect meat quality.
- Cows and Sheep: Also best in the neck to keep good meat from being damaged.
- Pigs: Given in the neck, behind the ear.
- Chickens: Usually in the breast muscle.

2. Under-the-Skin Shots (Subcutaneous or Sub Q)
These shots go just under the skin. They are easy to give and usually don’t hurt the animal much.

- Goats: Given in the armpit area or on the shoulder.
- Cows and Sheep: Given under the loose skin behind the shoulder or over the ribs.
- Pigs: Often given in the flank or behind the ear.
- Chickens: Given in the loose skin on the back of the neck.

3. Vein Shots (Intravenous or IV)
These shots go straight into a vein and work very fast. They should only be done by someone trained.

- Goats, Cows, and Sheep: Use the jugular vein in the neck.
- Pigs: The ear vein is often used.
- Chickens: Rarely done, but sometimes given in the wing vein.

4. Udder Shots (Intramammary)
These are used for female animals with udder infections, like mastitis.

- Goats, Cows, and Sheep: Medicine is put into the teat using a clean, special tool.
- Not used in pigs or chickens.

17/04/2025

Basic Steps to Make Silage

Let's dive into silage — a powerful way to preserve green forage for your animals, especially during dry seasons when fresh pasture is scarce.

What is Silage?

Silage is fermented, high-moisture stored fodder made from green foliage crops. It’s preserved in a way that retains nutrients and becomes a highly digestible, energy-rich feed for ruminants like goats, sheep, and cattle.

Why Silage Is Important

Ensures feed availability during dry seasons.

Reduces feed costs.

Preserves nutrients better than drying (hay).

Increases milk and meat production due to high energy content.

Common Crops Used for Silage

Maize (corn) – Best for energy-rich silage.

Sorghum

Napier grass (elephant grass)

Guinea grass

Legumes (e.g., cowpea vines, lablab) – add protein.

Cassava leaves (used carefully, not too much).

Basic Steps to Make Silage

1. Harvest at the Right Time

For maize: when the kernels are milky-dough stage.

For grasses: just before flowering.

Chop into small pieces (2–5 cm). This helps compaction and fermentation.

2. Add Molasses (optional but helpful)

Helps speed up fermentation.

Use about 1–2 liters per 100 kg of chopped material.

3. Pack and Seal the Silage

You can use:

Pit (dug in the ground)

Drum (plastic container or barrel)

Plastic bags or silage bags

Key principle: remove all air. This promotes anaerobic (airless) fermentation.

Line the pit or container with plastic.

Fill layer by layer, pressing tightly to remove air.

After filling, cover tightly with plastic and weight it down (e.g., with stones, sandbags).

4. Fermentation Period

Leave it sealed for at least 21 days, preferably 30–45 days.

It becomes slightly sour-smelling and soft – a sign that it’s ready.

How to Use Silage

Open only the part you need daily to avoid spoilage.

Feed alongside dry roughages (e.g., hay) and fresh water.

Can be mixed with concentrates for better nutrition.

Signs of Good Silage

Smells like vinegar or mildly sweet.

Greenish or light brown color.

No mold or rotten smell.

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13/04/2025

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12/04/2025

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11/04/2025

Bloat treatment

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09/04/2025

Milk production is a crucial economic activity in many countries, and dairy cows are the main resource in this industry. There are several breeds of dairy cows, each with specific characteristics that adapt to different climates and production systems.

Dairy Cow Breeds

1. Holstein
- Origin**: The Holstein breed originated in the Netherlands in the 19th century.
- Climate Adaptability: It adapts well to temperate and cool climates, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C.
- Milk Production: The average production per cycle is 10,000 to 12,000 liters.

2. Jersey
- Origin: The Jersey breed originates from the island of Jersey, located in the English Channel, since the 18th century.
- Climate Adaptability: It adapts to temperate and humid climates, with temperatures between 10°C and 20°C.
- Milk production: Its average production per cycle ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 liters.

3. Guernsey
- Origin: This breed originated on the island of Guernsey, also in the English Channel, in the 18th century.
- Climate adaptability: Like the Jersey, it adapts well to temperate and humid climates, with temperatures between 10°C and 20°C.
- Milk production: It produces between 5,000 and 7,000 liters per cycle.

4. Ayrshire
- Origin: The Ayrshire breed was developed in Scotland during the 18th century.
- Climate adaptability: It adapts to cool and humid climates, especially between 5°C and 15°C.
- Milk production: Its average production is between 8,000 and 10,000 liters per cycle.

5. Brown Swiss
- Origin: This breed originates from Switzerland, where it originated in the 19th century.
- Climate Adaptability: Like the Ayrshire, it adapts to cool, humid climates with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 15°C.
- Milk Production: Average production is 9,000 to 11,000 liters per cycle.

Learn more about these incredible breeds and their impact on milk production!
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06/04/2025

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03/04/2025

Injection sites
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03/04/2025

📑 STOP Injecting Animals in the Hindquarters – There’s a Better Way! 🚨 🐄🐎🐖🐐

When administering intramuscular (IM) injections, many people mistakenly inject in the hindquarters, not realizing the risks involved. Whether you're caring for cattle, horses, pigs, goats, or other livestock, using the correct injection site is critical for animal welfare, health, and treatment effectiveness.

❌ The Risks of Hindquarter Injections:

🔴 Increased Pain & Stress – The hindquarters are high-motion areas, making injections more painful and stressful for the animal.
🔴 Higher Risk of Tissue Damage & Abscesses – Injections in the hindquarters can cause muscle scarring, swelling, and infection, affecting movement and comfort.
🔴 Reduced Treatment Effectiveness – Poor injection placement can lead to slow absorption or improper distribution of medication.
🔴 Animal Welfare & Ethical Responsibility – Minimizing pain and discomfort should always be a priority in ethical animal care.

✅ The Right Way: Use the Neck Injection Triangle (for suitable species)

🔺 Top: Nuchal ligament (upper neck)
🔺 Bottom: Cervical vertebrae (spine)
🔺 Front: Shoulder blade

For animals where the neck is not suitable, always consult species-specific best practices and a veterinarian to determine the safest and most effective injection site.

💉 Recommended Needle Sizes for IM Injections
✔ Small livestock (goats, pigs, etc.): 1.2mm × 25mm
✔ Larger animals (cattle, horses, etc.): 1.6mm × 25–38mm

🔹 Always use sharp, clean needles and inject at 90 degrees into the muscle for best results.

By following proper injection techniques, we ensure better health, faster healing, and improved well-being for all animals. Whether you’re a farmer, veterinarian, or animal caretaker, let’s make responsible, humane choices! 🐾💉

03/04/2025

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